Dry gold separator and amalgamator



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H, H. SCHUMAN. DRY GoLD'sBPARAToR AND AMALGAMATOR.

No. 539,549. Patented May 21,71895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. H. SCHUMAN. DRY GOLD SBPARATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

No. 539,549. Patented May 21, 1995.

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H. H. SCHUMAN. DRY GOLD SEPARATOR AND AMALGAMATOR'.

No. 539,549. Patented May 21,1895.

UNITED STATES `MJENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. SOHUMAN,YOF TRINIDAD, COLORADO.

DRY IGOLD SEPARATOR'AND AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,549, dated May 21, 1895.

-Applicetion filed March 29,1894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LHENRY H. SCHUMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trinidad, in the county of Las Animas and State ot` Colorado, have invented a lnew and useful Dry Gold Separator and Amalgamator, of which the following is a specification. t

This invention relates to dry gold separators and amalgamators; and it has for its object to provide an improved machine of this character which shall provide simple and efticient means for separatingand collecting gold by the dry process.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to construct a machine for the separation andamalgamation of gold out of the sand,gravel or pay dirt, wit-hout the use of water in working placer mines, thereby effecting a great saving iu the gold collected, as well as in the expense of working the mines, especially where water is not obtainable.

Vith these and other objectsin View, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same cousists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, ot' a separator and amalgamator machineconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionalfview on the line .fr a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the hopper-bucket, showing the hinged sieve-bottom swung open.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a tablestand constructed of material of suitable strength audinclosed at the sides by the casing sides 2, which form a lower casing, and which may be provided with suitable doors or openings for gaining ready access to the interior of the lower casingfor the purpose of removing and replacingthe parts of the machine located therein, and the lower casing table stand 1, supports in position thereon the smaller box'casing 3, which-may be of a cylindrical or other suitable shape and risesa suitable height above the table or top of the stand 1, and said box casin g 3, is conserai No. 505.616. KN@ model.)

structed in any suitable manner to form an inclosing support for certain parts of the machinev and is provided with an inclosing top board 4, having a central opening 5, therein,

vsurrounded by a shouldered edge 6, that forms shapes adapted for the purpose.

The separator box 8, is contracted at its lower end into a conical or funnel-,shaped separating pan 9,that is extended at its apex into the discharge neck 10, which tits in a discharge opening 1l in the top or table of the stand 1, so as to communicate with the inte- .riorof the lower casing at the top thereof.

The conical or funnel shaped separator pan 9, of the separator box 8, is provided with a concentric series of interior circular collecting ribs or flanges 12, that arearranged concentric with the neck 11 and are disposed vertically so as to form at diierent or regularly spaced points on the innersloping sides of the pan 9, a concentric series of mercury holding gold pockets 13, into which the gold settles and is collectedas it is fed together with the sand or gravel through the box 8 and out of the neck 11, and

said neck 11, is adapted to removably receive therein a slightly tapered discharge tube 14, which is removably wedged therein from the insidcof the box and projects upwardly thereinto to form at the apex of the pan 9, anr interior gold pocket 13, `which corresponds with the other pocket 13, and is somewhat larger than the same to insure a collection of the gold which has passed below the upper pockets.

- Removably supported withinV the upper open end of the separator box 8, is the p rimary conical or funnel-shaped separating pan 15, that is similar in shape and construction -to the pan 9, located at the lower end of the box 8, and the Vupper or primary pan 15, is

IOO

provided at its upper iiaredends with the offs I standing supporting flange 16 that rests on the ange7 at the upper end of the box 8 and serves teste to removably support the pan 15 in position. The upper conical or funnel shaped separator pan 15, is provided at its apex with the tubular discharge neck 17, into which is removably fitted, from the inside, the inwardly projecting slightly tapered discharge tube 18, that forms within the pan 15 at the apex thereof an interior bottom collecting pocket 19 corresponding to the pocket 13a, of the pan 9, and holding mercury so as to serve to collect and hold any gold that may be separated from the sand or gravel at this point.

The gravel or sand that is fed into the up-` per separating pan 15 is thoroughly ground up, agitated and sieved by the devices to be hereinafter described, so that the same will pass into the pan 15, in a finely divided state and throughout the entire area thereof, and this pan being made of sheetcopper will allow a certain portion of the ore or `gold carried by the sand or gravel to run into the pocket 19, while other portions of the gold, together with the finely divided sand or gravel will passout through the tube 18 into t-he interior of the box 8, and as the material discharges from the tube 18, the same strikes the apex of the spreading cone20. The spreading cone 20, is made of smooth sheet metal, preferably copper like the other parts of' the machine, and has the point or apex thereof disposed upwardly directly tindex' the discharging point of the upper pan 15, and the lower edge of said spreading cone has projected therefrom a series of spaced supporting feet 2l, that rest within the upper iiared end of the lower pan portion 9, of the box 8, and serve to removably support the cone in position to deflect or spread the material out to the upper flared end of the pan 9, and as the sand or gravel runs through this pan 9 and out of the discharge tube 14, other portions of the gold are arrested by the ribs or flanges 12, and the tube 14, and are collected in the pockets 13 and 13, and the discharge from the pan 9, through the tube 121, strikes the point or `apex of the lower sheet metal spreading cone 22, provided at its lower edge with a series of supporting legs 23, that serve to removably support the cone in position within the upper flared ends of the lower conical or funnel shaped separating pan 24.

The lower conical o r funnel shaped separating pan 22, is supported within the lower casing or table stand by the pan supporting shelf 25 arranged to slide on the supporting cleats 26 at the inner opposite sides of said stand, and at the apex of the pan the same is provided with the discharge neck 27, that is fitted into the brace block 28, arrangedto engage between the cleats 29 at opposite sides of the same, to hold the neck 27 positioned over the bottom discharge opening 30 through which the waste sand or gravel or tailings discharge into the tailings pan 3l, arranged within the bottom of thellower casing ortable stand under the bottom board 32, in which the bottom discharge opening 30, `is formed.

The lower separating pan 24:, is also provided with a concentricseries of interior collecting ribs or flanges 33, that are disposed vertically to form a concentric series of pockets 3ft, in which quicksilver or mercury is placed to insure the collection of all gold that has escaped separation in the upper pans, and the neck 27, is adapted to removably receive the slightly tapered discharge tube 36, that pro jects inwardly within the pan to form at the apex of the same the interior collecting pocket 37, below the plane of and concentric with the pockets` 34 in order to secure the complete separation and amalgamation of all gold, while the uncollected sand and gravel passes out through the discharge tube 36, into the pan 31, vas tailings, it being seen that the spreading cone 22 serves to evenly distribute or feed the materialinto the upper end of the said lower separating pan.

Arranged to swing over the upper end of the separator box 8, and the upper pan 15,

therein, is the hopper bucket 33, which is also of a slightly tapered or conical shape and is designed to receive the gold bearing sand or gravel as it is mined, and said bucket 33, is adapted to be securely attached to the turning standard 34?, by means of one or more brace arms 35n bolted to said standard and suitably secured to the bucket, and said standard is supported for its turning movementin the upper and lower combined supporting and bearing collars 36, secured to and extended from one side of the upper casing` 3.

The swinging hopper bucket 33 is encircled at its lower end by the band or ring 37*L which forms a support and connection for the hinged sieve bottom 38. The sieve bottom 38, consists of a bottom ring or frame 39 in which is fitted a suitable meshsieve or screen 40, that may be renewed at any time, and said hinged bottom is provided at one side with the hinge or pivot lug il, that is suitably hinged or pivoted, as at 42, to the band or ring 37a, and an opposite side is provided with a shouldered pivoted latch 43, that is designed to engage the latch pin 4t, projected from one side of the band or ring 37, and completing means for removably securing the sieve or screen bottom over the lower open end of the hopper bucket.

A transverse bearing bar t5 is secured across the upper open end of the hopper bucket `and is provided with a central bearing L16 to receive the stirring shaft 47, the lower end of which turns in the central bearing 48, of the spider bearing frame 49, tted within the lower reduced end of the hopper bucket. The stirring shaft 47, has fitted thereto within the bucket atfregularly spaced points a series of double stirring blades or knives 50, that extend to both sides of the IOO shaft and are adapted to becarried through t-he gold bearing sand or gravel to thoroughly stir up and partially grind or pulverize the same in order that it may be put in the best possible condition for screening through the sieve or screen 40, which serves to separate the larger gravel or stones from the sand and finer particles of gravel, which pass through the several separating devices described, and these stirring blades or `knives are held in their separated positions byv means vof the spacing sleeves 51, interposed between the same.

The extreme lower end of the shaft 47, bef low the bearing frame 39, is adapted to loosely carry thereon the brush bar 52, that works flat on the inner side of the sieve or screen 40. The brush 4bar 52, has attached toitsupper side the perforated bracket plate 53, through which projects the lower extremity ofthe shaft 4l and which receives the securing pin 54, for properly connecting the brush bar with the shaft, while at the saine time making a loose connection so that the brush can work loosely or yieldingly over the sieve or screen in order to brush the dirt or sand into the upper pan 15.

The stirring shaft 47 extendsv above the.

bucket 33a and turns in the bearing 55 at the outer extremity of the standard arm 56 eX- tended from the upper end ,of the standard 34a, and on this arm y56 is journ'aled a horiz'ontal crank shaft 57 carrying at its outer end a crank handle 58 for turning the same and at its inner end a vertical beveled gear pinion 59, that meshes with a beveled gear wheel 60 keyed on the shaft 47, thereby completing aj connection which allows the bucketvand the gearing therefor to be swung around with the standard 34 as the hopper bucket is moved over and away from the separating devices of the machine.

In order to effecta proper separation4 of the gold from the sand, it is necessary to provide means forshaking or vibrating the separating pans, and to .effect this I employ a shaking frame 61. The shaking frame 6 l, is provided with the opposite depending 'arms 62, that embrace upper opposite sides of the lower separating pan 24, and is centrally perforated as at 63, to permit the discharge from the pan 9, to freely pass to the pan 24. The shaking frame 61 is further providedwith an upwardly extended frame portion 64, that works' in the slots or openings 65 in the top of the table and has la horizontal portion 66, supported on the strips or cleats 67, which, in fact, support the entire shaking frame, and said horizontal portion 66, is provided with a central opening 68, that embraces the lower contracted portion or neck of the separating pan 9. A shaking lever 69, is pivoted at one end as at to the topof the stand 1, and is also pivoted at an intermediate point as at 7l to the top of the frame 6l.

the free end thereof extended through the slot or opening 72, in one lower side of the casing 3, and has connected theretdone end of the retracting spring 73, the -other end of which is suitably connected to a stationary point of attachment within the casing 3f The lever 69, has

intermediate point in the pivot bracket 75,

secured to one side of the standard 34, and the upper end of said rod or bar has pivotally connected thereto the pawl arm 76. The pawl arm 76, is provided with a U-shaped portion 77, pivoted on `the pin 78, to the rod or bar 74, and adapted to rest on the stop or rest cleat 79, attached to one side of the rod or bar below the pawl arm to prevent it dropping out of position. One end of the pawl arm 76, is adapted to be engaged bythe ratchet or cam Wheel 80, secured on one end of the shaft 57, and adapted to bear against the pawl arm in a downward direction, a reverse movement of the ratchet or cam wheel simply lifting the pawl arm without operating the rod or bar 74. It will be seen that when' kthe machine is in operation and the ratchet or cam wheel properly ,working againstthepawl arm 76, the lever 69, will be moved in one direction by the rod or bar 74, and as the teeth or projections of the wheel V pass the pawl arm, the spring 73, will quickly retract the lever 69, so as to shake or vibrate the frame 6l, and thereby cause a shaking or vibrating movement to be given to the separating pans with which the shaking frame is connected and thereby greatly increasing the efticiencyvof the machine.

The Operation of the separating devices has already been detailed, and in reference tothe hopper bucket it will `be obvious that when the proper time arrives it is simply necessary to swing the same from over the upper pan 15, and to unlock the hinged sieve bottom in or-', der to clean the bucket of large gravel, stones or other lnatter that will not pass through the sievev or screen. t

Changes in the form, proportion andthe minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what 4is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a machine of the class described, a'conical or funnel shaped separating pan having a kconcentric series of interior collecting ribs or flanges forming a series of concentric collecting pockets, a discharging neck at its apex,

land a discharge tube removably fitted in said neck and projecting into the pan to form an interior collecting pocket at the inner end of l the neck, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, a conical or funnel shaped separating pan having a discharge neck at its apex, a concentric series of interior circular ribs or lianges forming collectingpocket-s, a discharge tube adaptedV to be removably fitted within the inner end of the discharge neck and projecting into the pan to form a surrounding gold collecting pocket, a spreading cone removably supported within IOO IIO

the flared end of said pan, and a vibrating frame rigidly attached to said pan substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, a vertically aligned series of conical or funnelshaped separating pans having depending discharge necks at their apices, and inwardly projecting discharge tubes removably fittedl within said discharge necks, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a suitable casing; of a separator box removably supported within the uppe1` portion of said casing and provided with a conical separating pan at its lower end having a bottom discharge and a concentric series of circular gold collecting pockets, an upper conical orfunnel shaped separating pan 'l5 removably supported within the upper end of said separator box and having a discharge opening at its apex, a spreading cone removably supported within the separator box below the upper pan,alower conical orfunnel shaped separating pan removably supported within the lower portion of the casing and provided with a concentric series of collecting pockets and a discharge opening at its apex, a spreading cone removably supported within the upper flared end of the lower pan, and a swinging hopper bucket arranged over said upper pan 15 substantially as set forth.

5. 4In a machine of the class described, the combination with a vertically aligned series of bottom discharging separating pans; of a swinging hopper bucket arranged to swing over the upper one of said pans and provided with a sieve or screen bottom, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the casing, the upper portion of which is provided with offfstanding vertically aligned bearing collars; the separating devices arranged within the casing, a revoluble standard mounted to turn in said collars, and a hopper bucket secured to said standard and provided with a sieve or screen bottom adapted to be swung over and away from the upper end of said separating devices, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine of 'the class described, the combination with the casing and the separating devices therein; of a hopper bucket supported for a swinging movement over the upper end of said separating devices and the casing inclosing the same, stirring devices arranged within the bucket, and a sieve or screen bottom hinged to the lower end of the bucket, and a securing latch for said hinged bottom, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the casing and the separating devices therein; .of a hopper bucket supported for swinging movement and having a sieve or screen bottom, a stirring shaft journaled vertically within said bucket, a series of parallel double stirring blades or knives secured on said shaft, and a brush bar loosely connected to the lower extremity of said shaft and working over said sieve or screen bottom, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the adjacent conical separating pans; of a shaking or vibrating frame rigidly connected with the adjacent ends of said pans, a spring-retracted shaker lever pivotally connected at one end to a fixed point of attachment and at an intermediate point to said shaking `or vibrating frame, a shaker rod or bar arranged to have Aone end play against one end of said shaker lever, a pawl arm pivotally connected to the upper end of said rod or bar, and a suitably operated ratchet or cam wheel arranged to play against one end of said pawl arm, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. SCI-IUMAN. Vitnesses:

J. O. PACKER, EDWIN B. FRANKS. 

